Beekeeping | How Often Should You Inspect Your Hive & More

Beekeeping inspections should be fun and enjoyable, not a pain. Today I'll share a new tip I've started doing and answer some questions like, how often should you inspect your bees. Come join my LIVE AUDIENCE LIVESTREAM on June 6th, 2024. Limited seating. Check it out here: www.honeybeesonline.com/live-...
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Whoa, you made it all the way down here! Thank you ♥️ Love you

[@jamescraig8601]

I will definitely do this next inspection day. Thanks

[@anabelaramos8399]

I do the same, lol, but never put honey frames in the nest. If needed I put those empty frames next to the nest to give space for the queen to lay.

[@robblayton]

Saw the queen at 14:09. Nice frames. Thanks for all you do, David. You gave me the confidence and knowledge to finally get into beekeeping, and the desire to want to be better and do it the right way.

[@woodboogerfarm]

I just got my first hive and have been binge watching your vids, IMO best out there as you explain things well...God bless and thanks!

[@davethekiwibloke]

Great video, you can never show and explain these techniques and observations too much. I always pick up something valuable. Thank you.

[@suetaylor-gross7230]

5 yr beekeeper, still a newbie. Been putting frames back this way cause it was easier. Nice to know I was not harming anything.😊

[@UTsnowsailor]

Inspected my hives today using your "new" way for frame manipulation. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most brilliant! Loved it.. faster, easier and safer for the bees. Thanks

[@keithpadbury9818]

In your example, outside frames were generally empty/undrawn. If i move outside frames that are fully capped honey frames eventually that fully capped frame will be in the middle of the box in prime egg laying position. Bees will need to uncap, remove stored honey and clean that frame before eggs can be laid. Do you anticipate any problems with moving fully capped stores frames in the way you have shown here?

[@miriamcondon9911]

Hi David! Thank you for all the you do! We watch your videos while we eat dinner every night! Tonight's video left a couple questions. So if you rotate your frames with each inspection you will soon have brood at the end of the box and not in the middle where the bees prefer and can keep the young ones warm. The other things is you could be filling up all the frames with resources and not leaving room for the queen to lay. Perhaps removing the first frame from alternating sides each time? That would keep the outside frames outside. Just some thoughts. Take care and Thank you again!

[@LuckyFigFarm]

Appreciate your videos, David. Thanks from Western Australia. 🐝

[@MidWesti]

after watching a handful of your videos I had to Subscribe. You have great info and a great way of delivering the info to new bee keepers like myself. I am installing my Nuc tomorrow here in central Ohio and I have been watching your videos and doing TONS of research. So I just wanted to say Thank you, and keep doing what you are doing! hope you see this and you and whoever else sees this will have a blessed day.

[@user-zn2gp2gj8w]

Queen at 14:09! Mid/top of screen headed right. Barreling through workers

[@mikeswann2647]

Love this new technique, more efficient , less confusing allows you to concentrate on the inspection...

[@wpankey57]

David, that’s really good idea about moving the frames like that. ❤

[@tonyt.1596]

Great video, thank you David. I hope you do a video soon on how to fix a hive when most of the comb is wonky. Seems I have one hive that always makes a mess of their frames. Thank you!

[@brycapepatrs]

David, thanks for sharing all your wisdom with us! I took the plunge into beekeeping 3 yrs ago. I went with Layen's horizontal hives because I can make them and they overwinter the bees so nicely. But if it wasn't for you, I would've been overwhelmed. The way you just get in the hive and do what needs to be done helped me remember to do the same thing on my first few inspections! I just did what you do. I was so worried about making the bees upset and getting stung I almost didn't open the hive. But now.... I'm addicted! I love getting into my bees and seeing all the amazing things they do! Truly, they are an incredible gift from God! This year I have collected 6 swarms and I still have time for at least 2 more! I'd love to take 10 hives into the winter. Last fall I learned the hard way that electric fencing is a must in rural central PA! so I invested! Glad I did! Anyway, a genuine bit of gratitude to you and yours! Thanks for being a mentor!

[@galina_920]

Another great video 🐝🐝 Thank you David 😇

[@framcesmoore]

Good video been doing this for a long time it is just easy to do it that way u do a wonderful job David hope u have a blessed week

[@jbnnm657]

Got stung twice in ankle in the same spot yesterday. Went into a moderate anaphylaxis state I'd say. Hives raised over body and some face numbness. Foot is super swollen too. Not sure If it's because I made a rookie mistake and smashed both the venom sacks entirely into my foot side by side. Making those two stings more like 6-10 worth of stings if removed properly. I know to flick but panicked due to suit failure. Love your videos. Hope I can keep bee keeping as I've got so many hives now that need me.

[@magigale]

I’ve been working my hives this way for a couple of years. Good to know it’s now backed by science

[@brianbennett4374]

Looking forward to tonight live stream 😊 Thanks David and Sheri 😊

[@beek]

Our pleasure!

[@phyllisflorian3540]

Ditto!

[@bowenmiller2649]

Your videos are very helpful. I like your monthly tips . Thank you,

[@beek]

Glad you like them!

[@mikemcgilvray8558]

Thanks for the information

[@emilandrusko8597]

thanks for the tips. Very much appreciated.

[@ryandarlenewilson6970]

I absolutely love this information. Thank you

[@bodoschlegel1085]

Excellent idea.

[@10cscharf]

I greatly appreciate you, your wife and the great information on your channel. I am starting to finally, after two years get the hang of bee keeping. Thanks and keep those videos comming.

[@UTsnowsailor]

Always learn so much from your videos. Thanks.

[@sharonc.2207]

Great advice 👍 ❤

[@Loneclimber]

Brilliant...thank you. Good show.

[@Elioha-gt8pu]

Once a week. It takes about 15-20minutes in each hive.

[@SherwoodWebb-rg5ev]

Great video!!

[@DonCoe757]

Another fine video. Your passion, knowledge and energy is infectious. You've made me a better beekeeper and have taught me to have fun doing it.

[@doozowings4672]

Great video … Thumbs up, thanks for the tips.

[@WildwoodsBeekeeping]

Great video David, thank ya for sharing

[@LoneWolf0568]

I did a full inspection on my new hive last Week and actually found my Queen for the 1st time. I have an older hive that I have never seen my Queen in but I know she is there and working her little heart out as I can always find eggs and larvae in various stages. Your videos and advice have really helped me a lot and I love the new technique and will put that to use myself. Thanks and keep the great videos coming!

[@damainkerek810]

Thanks!

[@kaldraganov9703]

This is a great technique, especially for a new beekeeper like me. Thank you!

[@dabprod]

Good tip. I'll try that.

[@pirateprospecting707]

Great video I've been using that technique for 3 years ✅️😁

[@Spiffytheweed316]

Thank you for this great idea! I’m going to start using this technique during my hive inspections. Thanks for the great content and for passing on all your years of knowledge.

[@davidtmp]

wow, what a great idea! I'll work that into my inspections.

[@bentasticplays]

New beekeeper here! Had my hive for a little over a month and have a second box on it! Tuesday is inspection day and I think I'm going to utilize your method of rotating the frames! Seems like a great idea! Fantastic video, and I look forward to more of your content :D

[@ryandarlenewilson6970]

First year beekeeping and I wish I saw this video when I started. My hive swarmed on June 19. A Queen hatched a few days later. Lost half or more of the colony. Hopefully the Queen is excepted and we can build up good before winter.

[@lindafbaker837]

Thanks so much David!! U are so smart & helpful. Great teacher!!!

[@beek]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gannensan]

Great Vid David

[@gaagomvi]

I have been watching your videos and learning some. I’ve been contemplating the idea of becoming a bee keeper. What should my first step be. Love your videos, very informative. Thank you for all you do for the bees and for teaching us.

[@beek]

Great! First pick a target date to start, always in the spring then start taking classes. We have many online beekeeping classes.

[@johnzeigler5130]

Thanks for the info. I had thought about how much I didn’t card for pushing all the frames back over to their original position to get the first frame back in it’s original position when I was inspecting a hive yesterday. I will definitely try your technique of just putting the first frame on the other end each time. I like the concept of rotating frames through the hive that way, and it seems like it will make inspections so much more efficient. Thanks Again!

[@austinvickymoore3656]

Amazing video as usual David thank you so much you have been a huge source of knowledge for my beekeeping jouney! My local club has a meeting next week! I cant wait for my first meeting!!

[@paulschaefer5241]

I notice you use a J hook hive tool. They are my personal favorite you can life the frames straight up. if you pry sideways as you would have to with the prybar type, the sudden snapping of propolis can get the bees too excited. slow smooth movement helps to keep them calm.

[@geckoproductions4128]

Nice video, good technique

[@arthurmccutchan7000]

Thanks

[@Whitey56.]

Thanks David I will adopt this way for inspections from now on , also the Wsp for drone brood, my queens laid very few drones this season I blamed the dearth we’ve had most of the year due to excessive rainfall. Have requeened in January ( live in Australia) which might fix the drone problem. Love your videos.

[@beegoodlife]

Nice !

[@matthewb7800]

Been doing it that way since I started beekeeping

[@greatdiscoveries2014]

Thank you for this I have felt so unorganized this helped so much I will be able to do much quicker this way!

[@beek]

Thanks

[@jimhegarty9561]

Hi David. New subscriber here. Very interesting video. I will try that with y hives at my next inspection Could yo tell me what type of glove you wear? Thank you!!

[@ricknineg]

Thank you for your videos! Can you make a video on anything and everything that has to do with disposal of bees? How do we clean the bottom of a bottom board? How do we dispose of drones in caped cells after they are frozen? How do we dispose properly of a queen that is not laying well if she is still alive? These topics seem to never be touched upon

[@user-zy7on7gk9u]

Интересно, спасибо

[@gregbarker2525]

David, I have a question about the super frames in the deeps. Will the colony and queen be more likely to make drone cells on the bottom and use the rest of the frame for workers? If so, it sounds like it would be a good tool to use for mite control....

[@timbervalleyhomestead]

I have never seen the bees make anything other than drone comb at the bottom of the super frame and I use this myself as a way to control mites.

[@lindajohnson2950]

Great instruction as always!!! What about the brood being moved to the side as you go through the season? Does that confuse anything?

[@karolespencer]

Great video. How often should I inspect my hives? This is my first year beekeeping. It’s all new equipment.

[@christinecontelmo9264]

I heard from someone that bees plain the surface of the cells in an area before the queen lays. Have you heard this? First time I'm hearing myself.

[@glenweidemann8699]

Great idea. Love it Dave. Definitely going to do it when our spring rolls around in a few months. 😀

[@royschrader8003]

Hi David

[@ASousaMakesIt]

Yeah!!! I found the queen first min 14:13, more or less middle of the screen a bit for the right side 😂

[@markhofer6091]

David nice videos, lots of information. I was wondering if you can make a video. What to do with frames full of honey and pollon If you have a hive and it died of in the spring, you do have lots and lots of honey most of it is crystallized, what would you do with them? Is it good to put them somewhere away from the hive so bees can clean them out in spring

[@robertevras6577]

Question...would that have been a solid time to add a queen excluder between the deep? Would that have been a solid way to get the bee's turning the top box into a honey super?

[@leannecarroll9347]

Thank you! I love this idea! I hate sliding all the frames back!!! This is awesome. Do you have any tips for honey bound hives?

[@beek]

Thursday I'm spending the whole hour answering these types of questions. Can you join us and ask it then? Thursday, 7pm central time, here's the link: www.honeybeesonline.com/live

[@JoeSikorra-pb2tc]

What if the first frame against the wall is full of honey? Should you move it or leave it and move another frame that might not be drawn out? Does this method apply to supers you are trying to get drawn out?

[@joetripp123]

Hey David, I like this. I've always wondered if that could be done. Question, if the 10th frame (farthest from you) is drawn out thick since it was previously at the wall will the bees ever adjust that if the 'bee space' is too small between frame 10 (previously frame 1) and frame 9 (previously frame 10)?

[@beekeeper8474]

Lol right as I get home.

[@davidoligny1051]

What about the frames with brood? Would they eventually get to the box wall? Would it matter because brood is hatching all the time?

[@TheRainHarvester]

Same question. In winter will brood freeze at the edge?

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

Smart move. Save time and takes away risk if you dont find queen moving frames

[@metalmeddling]

Well I think I messed up. Famous last words of a new beekeeper I guess. Long story short I may have inadvertently rid my hive of it's queen ( I'll spare the details for now). Wanted to add another deep box but noticed only about 3 1/2 new frames are drawn out and not fully. Appears to me to only be capped honey and nectar, nothing else. I have had my bees for over a month and thought they would have 5 to 7 frames drawn out by now. Is 7 days too soon to inspect the hive again, I want to check them again next week to see if I missed anything?

[@miketullo5025]

David: What happens when the brood frames make it to the edge? Don't the briid frames need the honey frames for insulation?

[@lsmith5678]

When you rotate frames from the #1 position the the #10 position, eventually you will separate the brood frames. Do you have concerns about having brood frames split?

[@timbervalleyhomestead]

Not in the summer but in the cooler weather you don’t want to split brood

[@DavidWilliams-wr4wb]

David , I hate to hurt your feelings but I’ve been inspecting my hives exactly like this since I rolled a Queen back into the 70’s lol it’s just super easy and gives me plenty of room to start on one side and work my way over and my experience with it is that you can actually inspect a full box more thoroughly without hurting the queen and I have had bees that never wanted to draw frames and on these really hard drawers I will advance by two frames in the beginning so by the time july hits your outer frames get centered and drawn out , again sorry but this has been going on since 1971 😋

[@Inventerius]

Have been doing simmilar for years but my frame is marked. I start with that frame and put it back in the gap on the end. Next inspection i work the other way. So all other frames stay always in the same order but move 1 spot left or right every inspection. And only the marked frame moves from the begin to the end.

[@royschrader8003]

14:15 Queen middle right

[@puloybee]

Hello David,what if the first frame is with egg already,is it ok to break the brood cluster since the opposite end is not yet drawn?

[@Klaatu-ij9uz]

QUESTION -- I've been beekeeping for ten years now and under the assumption, and experience, that the "bottom" deep was primary used for brood by the bees. Now I see your hive having brood in just about equal amount in the "top" and "bottom" deeps!? Just why is your particular queen, or method, performing double-duty?? 🐝

[@zWhistler]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@royschrader8003]

Question: I have my own hives. I also volunteer for a non profit group. The guy in charge there always wants 9 frames in a 10 frame box. I do as he says. I do notice more drone cells doing it that way. Is the extra room causing that or is the hive needing drones? No queens cell at this time. Thank you Dave.

[@johnbush3610]

How would this method affect honey stores as the frames are rotated?

[@francesscherz8720]

What happens if you exchange a outside frame with a frame let’s say from the middle?

[@deanabossio3091]

What time of the day is the best time to check your hive?

[@avonwoodequestrian2685]

I got a nuc to start my hive. The four frames a got had more space in their box, and now they are thick. It makes manipulating the frames difficult, I feel like I'm squeezing them to fit them in. I'm afraid to squish the queen. Is there a fix?

[@robertofkennedy]

Wouldn't frame shift outrun brood ball?

[@GaroSargsyan-db9sn]

👍👍👍🐝🐝🐝спасиба видю я друзияа

[@superman5742]

Can I inspect them once a month. I'm planning to keep a hive at my native and can check on them once a month only

[@andrewnichols1240]

You don't wanna chill the brood. Not going to check the bottom bellow mite screen for mites? I got mine over a tray of water keeps ants out

[@BenBen31BPD7]

That concept isn't new actually. My uncle used to do that same thing when I would go with him in California to inspect his hives back in 1985. Back then wasn't like today though, beekeepers had and protected their secrets. Beekeeping world is a lot nicer these days

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

Can you leave too much pollen in a hive?. Had some 10 frame hives with 6 pollen frames on double deeps. Front and back of Foundation

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

Can old pollen go bad in hives?

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

Sure it would be best to leave pollen frames in freezer instead of leaving it out with paromoth

[@TheRainHarvester]

But won't that technique move the brood to the outside where they'll freeze in winter? I'm a noob

[@richardmadsen9503]

I get the most worried when I have to tighten up all the frames.

[@GraemeGosse]

Wouldn't you be taking away the insulation benefit of honey on both outside positions

[@InsaneFacts220]

hii can you help me im a new beekeeper and i keep seeing bees below my hive the can’t fly im not sure whats the problem,, and i see alot of bees at the entrenc of the hive

[@Shotgunwizard91]

so if youre doing 2 dif types of inspections every 2 weeks each, then are you actually checking every week?

[@beek]

Wonderful questions. Can you ask this Thursday night during my livestream because I'd like for the answer to reach a larger audience. My Livestream is this Thursday at 7pm central time. Here's the link: kzbin.infogccWHkEDuOQ

[@Shotgunwizard91]

​@@beeksure thing

[@johnlehr1036]

Doesn't this end up breaking the brood nest at some point?

[@apveening]

It shouldn't, the brood will have emerged by the time the frame is next to the wall.

[@blitzbopp9888]

i can see a dead bee at 10:16 :(